Hidden Treasures of Italy

When traveling through Italy, part of the intrigue is the fashion that you see on the street, in cafes and restaurants, and on both men and women while riding on a Vespa, an art in itself.  The fashion capital of Italy is Milan, and the fashion is like visiting a museum.  The colors, patterns, textures you see on both men and women are intoxicating and the shopping can be an event that lasts forever in you memory.

While in Milan, recommend taking a leisurely walk through Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga as this area houses famous brands such as Prada, Gucci, Bulgari.  It is so much fun to window shop, and if you go in, you may be offered a glass of champagne or sparkling water, which allows you to spend some time taking in the beauty, creativity and art of it all.  Whether you make a special purchase or not, it is a memory that you will have for a lifetime and one that will always bring a smile to your face, as I know it does for me! 

In addition to luxury shopping, there is endless possibilities of boutiques, markets and department stores.  If this is more your interest, please take a walk down Corso Vittoria Emanuale II, a little history fact, the street was named after the first king of unified Italy.  Here you can stroll, shop, window shop and stop at a café for an espresso and maybe a gelato or panettone, or sit for dinner or lunch.

Enjoy the art and hoping you can bring a piece of it home with you.  Whether it is a fabulous, artfully wrapped package specially for you or pictures of moments in your mind of the joy you experienced while in Italy, 

Fai ricordi

About the author: Karen Titus

Karen enjoys traveling the globe and has a special love and interest of Italy as it was her first trip to Europe many years ago. She has recently retired from Delta Air Lines and looking for the next chapter and adventure of her life.
For more information about Karen, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-titus-22b4a1b/

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

October 16, 2020

Castel Frentano is a spectacular rural town in the beautiful Abruzzese area of Italy. The town dates back to the 13th century and is surrounded by majestic mountains as well as the amazing Adriatic Sea. While these natural and historic wonders are hidden treasures of their own, the bocconotto stands tall as a traditional and delicious jewel.

The first time I had a bocconotto was when I visited Castel Frentano, my husband’s home town as a young bride. I come from a family of home bakers but I must say that I was astounded by the bocconotto and still am, as one of the most delicious of treats. If you are a chocolate lover hold on to your seats, this is a chocolate lovers dream!

Bocconotti are filled with lots of chocolate, almonds, and jam. There are many variations of the recipe that are secretly guarded by generations of bakers in Castel Frentano. The most difficult part to master is the pastry shell. It is a cross between a cookie and a pie crust. Biting into a bocconotto is an enticing melt in your mouth experience. If you can get a family member or a friend to give you the recipe that would be the most authentic, although you can find versions of the recipe online.

Celebrations in Castel Frentano often include bocconotti, they are the centerpiece of any dessert table. Mostly they are part of the many vibrant and original celebrations of the amazing Abruzzo region. I hope you will visit Castel Frentano, in the province of Chieti on your next trip to Italy, and make sure to have a bocconotto while you are there!

About the Author: Joanne Natale Spigonardo.

Joanne has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, history wine and cuisine. She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. For more information about Joanne please visit her Linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/

What could be better than indulging in gelato for breakfast, lunch and dinner when in Rome? While on my first visit to Rome, I found love, in gelato!  This is a treat I have never had in the United States, or if I did, it didn’t seem to come close.  Could it be simply being in Rome made it all taste so good, or was there really a difference?  So I set out to find to explore and find my favorite treat of Rome. 

Each morning, I wandered the streets of Rome, off the normal tourist path.  This curiosity would help find the ideal place at that perfect moment that served Gelato. I started my quest with a taste of hazelnut and chocolate to see how delicious it was.  In the late afternoon, as I strolled the fabulous city, I would find a new tucked away spot and taste a few more flavors while I sat watched people go about their day.  There is something so special about those moments that I will never forget.  Was it simply the art of eating gelato? Was it simply being in Rome that made it taste so good? Or perhaps was it me fantasizing how much I would love to pack up and live in Rome that brings back such bold memories? 

For me, after several days I came to the conclusion that pistachio gelato is my favorite.  To this day, whenever I think or see pistachio gelato, my senses bring me immediately back to Rome and the glorious simplicity of it all.  Taking a turn down a narrow street, choosing a flavor, sitting down and watching the beauty and all of its hidden treasures.  

About the author:

Karen Titus has retired from Delta Air Lines and has a live long passion for travel, and is a fitness instructor, and an avid lover and advocate for animals. 

By Joanne Natale Spigonardo

On one of my trips to Rome, I was amazed to find 12 churches in a two-block radius. It was a beautiful October day, perfect for leisurely exploration. I though that if I took a full day that I could explore all of those 12 particular churches. I was looking to find how rich they were in history and in art. It was a revelation to know that so many renowned sculptors and painters were to be admired free of charge. I thought that I would start with the Church of the Gesu. I particularly wanted to visit this church because I so admire the Gesu Church on the campus of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia.

The Church of the Gesu on Via degli Astalli in Rome, is an amazing work of art in its entirity, from its façade to the tremendous paintings and altar pieces inside the church. It is of the Baroque style and was designed by Giacomo da Vignola in 1568. It is the mother church of the Jesuit Order. Jesuits are known for their devotion to education, beauty, and art. The ceiling is a masterpiece by Giovanni Battista Gaulli and is called The Triumph of the Name of Jesus. It was inspired by St. Ignatius of Loyola and his teachings.

Many of the tapestries, sculptures, and paintings have been on exhibition in the past years in various museums globally. I hope you get a chance to visit the Church of the Gesu on your next trip to Rome. It is one of the hidden treasures of Italy.

I didn’t get a chance to visit any other churches that day, as it took hours to fully enjoy the wonders of the Church of the Gesu.

About the Author:

Joanne Natale Spigonardo is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and has a long history of travel experience. Joanne admires the Renaissance, art-history, and women’s studies. She is also the author of the novel, White Widow, available on Amazon.